I went to F-10 Market to collect a remittance from Western Union and, it was so depressed to see a lively market deserted and closed. F-10 Market is very close to our house and all of us have been coming here for more than 20 years for all our grocery and shopping needs. There's a deathly feeling to see everything closed. As much as we rationalise these measures as temporary and necessary to stop the disease 's transmission , we see this halt of every day life, every day grind, this closure of public space as a frightening sign.
That we can no longer come out to shop, get tea from our favourite Quetta café, and meet friends , and then proceed to F-9 Park to attend a Study Circle.
And we have no sense of how long for we will be stuck inside homes. There is also no sense of security that the government is technologically, intellectually and, ideoligically ready. Sure, there is a lot of life, togetherness and, activity inside our homes but I sorely missed the life we live outside our homes in public spaces.
I sorely missed that life when looking around the deserted, closed market. I miss seeing people, those same shoving, pushing, unsmiling people.
My feelings are thrown into a muddle. I complain so much about public spaces for being dirty and without any social order arrogantly but now I miss that mess.
Maybe social norms will change after Corona. Maybe people will be more concerned about healthcare and, its access and quality for everyone. Maybe we will have more of a social consciousness, how to relate to each other, how to think about having a system where there is more buffers and security. Maybe we will finally start focusing more on what the social and equitable needs are instead of war mongering and, buying more guns.
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